New players boost Crediton

CREDITON manager Jon Veale says he is confident his club can fight their way out of trouble in the Peninsula League Division One East after making two new signings for the club.

Veale, who joined Crediton as manager back in October, has struggled to guide the club out of relegation places in the division, with a fractious relationship between the first and second teams leaving him short of players on numerous occasions.

However, Veale has convinced former Torquay United trainee Phil Hardee to join the club along with Scott Marshall from league rivals Alphington.

Veale said these two signing proved the club was on the up.

He said: "It should help lift the club and bring a few more players on board, because other players will look at these signings and say 'we'll if he's gone there, they must be doing something right' and then maybe they will come along as well."

Speaking about the signing of Hardee, Veale added: "He was forced out of the game (at Torquay) because of knee problems, but he is still able to play out our level and he is a good player.

"He'll bring experience to the side. He plays in the centre of the park and he'll get on the ball and make things happen.

"Scott Marshall is an experienced lad who will shore up the defence a little bit.

"He can play alongside me, which isn't ideal because I want to be managing not playing but for the time being it is a step in the right direction."

Veale, whose side face Alphington on Saturday, added that the club had lacked a bit of leadership in recent weeks and hoped the two new signings would help the club in getting the results needed to climb the table.

"We were lacking (experience) a little bit," he said. "We have got a lot of youngsters and it is fine to have youngsters in the side, but it is when you go two goals down and you need to dig in that the experienced lads will help in that situation."

"I am hoping for good things against Alphington on Saturday. I would like to say we would win, but I think we will certainly be a lot more competitive and hopefully it will be a lot tighter game than our recent results have been."

Crediton were due to play bottom-of-the-table Sidmouth on Saturday, but the game was postponed due to the rain.